What If The New York Giants Successfully Claimed Cris Carter Off Waivers in 1990?

Cris Carter was placed on waivers by Philadelphia Eagles coach Buddy Ryan before the 1990 NFL season and New York Giants head coach called Carter to tell him the G-Men would claim the third-year veteran off waivers, but the Minnesota Vikings were awarded Carter for having a worse record. How would things have played out had Big Blue nabbed the Hall of Famer?

I was watching the 1993 NFC Wild Card Game between the Giants and Vikings that took place in January 1994. It’s become known as “The Rodney Hampton Game” as Rodney rushed for more than 100 yards and two touchdowns a week after losing the division crown to the Dallas Cowboys. During that broadcast, commentator Pat Summerall mentioned that Vikings wideout Cris Carter was nearly a Giant and that’s what inspired this article.

Carter was drafted by the Eagles in the fourth round of the 1987 NFL supplemental draft and is the only player drafted in the Supplemental draft to be elected into the Hall of Fame. It was in Philadelphia where head coach Buddy Ryan helped to coin one of ESPN’s Chris Berman’s famous quotes about Carter: “All he does is catch touchdown passes.”

In 1989, Carter collected 11 receiving touchdowns, which was 3rd most in the NFL. However, Ryan let Carter go due to off-the-field issues and that’s when Bill Parcells phoned Carter and asked him how soon he could get to Giants Stadium. The Tuna wanted Carter bad, but he wouldn’t have him as the Vikings’ claim was successful.

With Minnesota, Carter became a two-time first-team and one-time second-team All-Pro and played in eight consecutive Pro Bowls from 1993 – 2000. Carter was named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s first team All-1990s Team and Pro Football Reference’s 2nd team All-1990s team. Cris was also awarded the NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year in 1999. His 130 career receiving touchdowns are 4th most all-time.

So, with all that in mind, let’s take a look at how the New York Giants timeline would play out with Cris Carter on the roster.

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